Bumper



March 9 1926.

R. B. FAGEQL BUMPER Filed May 51 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /NvE/v'r'oA?4 ROLL/E B FAGEOL, BY g Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOLLIE B. FAGEOL, OF OAKLANI), CALIFORNIA, 'ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN OHAIN M- PANY, INC., OF BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTIOUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BUMPER.

Application led May 31, 1923. Serial No. 642,377.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, RoLLm B. FAeEoL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Uakland, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bumpers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bumpers ada ted to be maintained at the front or rear o automobiles for protecting the latter against damage resulting from collisions with other Vehicles and stationary obstacles.

It is the principal object of the present in- Vention to provide a generally improved resilient automobile bumper that will act effectively in absorbing impact with a minimum of damage to the bumper and to the vehicle upon which it is mounted, which bumper is inexpensive to manufacture, easily assembled on a vehicle regardless of thewidth thereof, and to present a relatively large impact area'whereby it will efectively protect the end of a vehicle upon which it may b e mounted from damage in the event of a` collision with a stationary or moving object.

The invention contemplates the use of a plurality of resilient impact bars mounted 'in parallelism in the same Vertical plane and connected to form a bumper structure of comparatively large impact area extending transversely of a vehicle frame, which structure is alttached in an adjustable mannerto mounting brackets that may be easily fitted to automobiles of Varying frame widths.

The resent invention is exemplified in the fol owing description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:v

Fig. 1 is a View in plan of a bumper embodying the invention and shown as at; tached to the front end of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a front View of the bumper shown in preceding figure.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section View through the bumper taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, disclosing certain details of construction.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective of one of the ends of the bum er.

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of a slightly modified form of the invention illustrated in the preceding figures.

pact bars.

Fig. 6 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 6-6 on Fg. 5.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, 10indicates an automobile bumper here shown as mounted at the frontof an automobile and connected to the frame thereof by a pair of mounting brackets 11. .v

The bum er proper comprises a lurality of flat resii ie'nt impact bars 12a w ich are disposed parallel to each other and in the same Vertical plane. w The ends of the bars are curved as shown at 13 andare recurved as shown at 14 to form a shepherdls crook,

This formation of the ends of the bars has been found eflective in eliminating entanglement of the bum er with objects in the path of the vehicle w en hacking. I

Reference being had to Fig. 4 of the draw'- ings, it isseen that the extremities of the bars at each end are curled as at 15 to form eyelets for the reception of bolts 16. Tubular 'spacing blocks are positioned between these curled ends and when the bolts are positioned and vtightened up, the bars will be' firmly connected and maintained parallel at spaced distances apart. This connection at the ends of the impact bars is effective in preventing distortion of the ends of the umper from minor shocks.

The mounting brackets 11 may be of any suitable design but are preferably formed of flat resilient metal members bent to form a Vertical portion 18 connected by a curved portion 19 to a substantially horizontal arm 20 which may be suitably connected to the vehicle frame. The Vertical portion 18 is drilled to receive one-or. more bolts 21. As shown in Fig. 3, when the bumper is mounted on the brackets, a bolt extends between the impact bars at each end and a washer is placed between the head of the bolt and the surface of the impact bars. VVhen the bolts are tightened the bumper and brackets are firmly connected.

In Fig. 7 clamp plates 23 are substituted for the washers 22. The bolts extend through these' plates and between the im- The ends of the clalnp plates 23 are bent to embrace the upper and lower bars. These ends, howeVer, do not contact with the Vertical portions 18 of the brackets width as it is only necessary to loosen the bolts 21 and shift the brackets along the bumper to the desired position and then rea tighten the bolts.

' the spirit of the invention as appended claims.

The bumper here disclosed is `described and shown as constructed. of a plurallty of a impact bars arranged in the same plane to form a relatively large impact area. :This is 'desirable for'the reason that in some 1nstances single bar bumpers on colhdmg Vehicles will not be in the same horizontal lane and will therefore i ass andA cause amage to the front parts o each vehicle.

As the im act bars and brackets are formed of resilient material the bumperwill shocks-and will act eifectively in absorbing not easily become distorted. While I'haVe shown the preferred embodlment of the invention, it is understood that Various changes' in the arrangement and design of the 'parts may be made by those skilled in the art, without de arting from efined in the Having thus described my invention, what VI claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An automobile bumper comprising a.

plurality of flat resilient impact bars arranged one above the other in substantially the same Vertical plane at spaced distances apart andextending substantially across the .face of the automobile, the extremities of two or more of said bars being curled to form eyelets, Vertical members extending through said eyelets and connecting the ends of said bars and resilient flat strip supporting members'for connecting the impact bars to the automobile frame.

2. An automobile bumper comprising a plurality of flat resilient impact bars arranged one above the other in substantially the same Vertical plane at spaced 'distances apart and extending substantially across the face of the automobile, the extremities of two or more of said bars being curled to form eyelets, Vertical members of circular cross section extending through said eyelets, and resilient flat strip supporting members for connecting the impact ars to the automobile frame.

3. An automobile bumper comprising a plurality of flat resilient impact bars arranged one above the other in substantially the same Vertical plane at spaced distances apart and extending substantially across the face of the. automobile, the extremities of two or more of said bars being curled to form eyelets, Vertical members of circular cross section extending through said eyelets and curVed resilient supporting members the automobile frame, and connecting ele-n ments extendin between said im act bars and engagin t e impact bars an the Su porting mem ers for firml;r connecting e impact bars to the su portmg members.

5. An automobile plurality of flat resilient impact bars arlranged one above the other in substantially the same Vertical plane at s aced distances apart 'and extending substantlally across' the faceof the automobile, the ends of said bars being recurved, the extremities of said bars being curled to form eyelets, Vertical memfbers extending through said eyelets and connecting the ends of said bars, flat strip resilient supporting members for connect' the impact bars to the automobile frame, an connecting elements extending between said im act bars and vengaging the impact bars an the supporting members for firmly connecting the impact bars to the supporting members.

6. An automobile bumper comprising. a plurality' of flat resilient impact bars arranged one above the other in substantially the same Vertical plane at spaced distances apart, 'and exten ing substantially across the face of `the automobile, the extremities of two or more of said bars being curled to form eyelets, Vertical members' extending through' said eyelets and connecting the ends of said bars and supporting members having portions extendin across the space between the impact bars or connecting the impact bars to the automobile frame.

7. An automobile bumper. comprising a plurality of flat resilient impact bars arranged one above the other in substantially the same Vertical plane at spaced distances apart, and extending substantially across the face of the automobile, the extremities of two or more of said bar being curled to formy eyelets, Vertical members of circular cross section extending through said eyelets and connecting the ends lof said bars and supporting members having portions extending across the space between the impact bars for connecting the impact bars to the automobile frame.

8. An 4automobile bumper comprising a plurality of flat resilient impact bars arranged one above the other in substantially the same Vertical plane2 recurved spring loops at the ends of sald bars providing umper comprising a,

rounded impact extremities and having free terminals, supporting means for said bumper having a vertically extending portion' lymg flat against the bumper strips, andl means for clamping the bumper strips to said portions of the supporting members and in spaced relation to each other;

9. An` automobile bumper comprising a plurality of flat resilient impact bars arranged one above the other in substantially the same Vertical plane, recurved spring loops at the ends of said bars providing rounded impact extremities and having free terminals, supporting means for said bumper having a vertically extendingportion lying flat against the bumper strips, means for clamping the bumper strips to said portions of the supporting members and in spaced relation to each other, and means vertically connecting the teminating ends of the bumper strips.

10. An automobile bulnper'compris/ing'a 'plurality of flat impact bars superposed m substantially the same Vertical plane and in spaced relation to each other, each bar terminating in a recurved loop end, the ends o f the loops being free andl formed With eyes, fastening means extending through the eyes of the loops at the opposite ends of the bumper, and a pair of brackets for supporting the bumper across the front of an automobile.

11. An automobile bumper comprisin a plurality of flat impact bars su erpose in substantially ,the same Vertical p ane and 1n spaced relation to each other, 'each bar terminatiing in a recurved loop end, the ends of the loops being free and formed with eyes, fastening means extending through the eyes of the loops at the opposite ends of the bumper, a' pair of brackets for supporting the bumper across thelfront of an automobile, said brackets being disposed in parallel Vertical planes and being formed with vertical portions lying transversely across the bumper bars, and means for clamping the bars to the brackets in spaced relation' to Veach other..

12. An'automobile bumper comprising a plurality of impact bars having superposed similar spring loops at their respective ends providing ronnded double impact extremities and having free terminals.

13. An autom'obile bumper comprisin a plurality of `flat resilient impact bars isposed in spaced relation to each other and in substantially the same Vertical plane, the ends of said bars being free and lrecurved to form resilient loops at the opposite ends of the bumper structure, a pair of supporting members formed of flat resilient metal for securing the bumper across the frame of an automobile, the forward portions of said resilient supporting members lying flat across the backs of the resilient bars and extending vertically, and means for .securing the bumper barsf agaihstsaid vertically extending portions of the supporting brackets.

14. An automobile bumper com risin a plurality of flat resilient impact ars isposed in spaced relation to each other and in substantially the same Vertical plane,' the ends' of said bars being free and recurved to form resilientl loops at the opposite ends of the bumper structure, a pair of supporting members formed of flat resilient 'metal for securing the bumper across the frame of an form resilient loops at theopposite ends of the bumper structure, and

supporting o brackets for securing the bumper across the front of an automobile, each bein formed .of flat resilient metal, the width o the section of which metal lies horiz'ontally, and which metal is .formed with spring loops,

one of the faces of the loops on each bracket extending vertically and transversely of the bumper bars, and means for securing said bars to said portions of the brackets and in spaced relation' to each other;

16.'An automobile bumper comprising Qa plurality of parallel bumper bars said bars terminating at their ends in eyes, means passing through the eyes for connecting said o bars, means for spacmg the bars vertically and supporting means intermediate the ends of the bumper `bars for mounting said bumper structuret-ransversely of the end of an 'automobile a 17. An automobile bumper comprising a plurality of parallel and vertically spaced impact bars, said bars having Vertical eyes 'in their terminating ends,l` connecting bolts one of which passes through the eyes at one end of the bars and another passing through the eyes at the oppo'site end of the bars, clamping. means intermediate the ends of the bars for holding them `parallel and means connecting with the clamping means for mounting the'bumper on the vehicle.

18. An automobile bumper comprising a plurality of parallel and vertically spaced .impact bars said bars each having recurved ends terminating in Vertical 1eyes, connecting bolts passing through theeyes and opposite `ends ofv the bars, clamping means intermediate the ends of. the bars for rigidly holdin the bars 1n spaced parallel relation to eac other and' means connected with the clampin nembers for mounting the bumper on a v c e.

19. An atomobile bumper oomprising a plmfality of flat resilient impact bars arranged one above the other in substantially 'the same Vertical fime. at spaced distances apart, and exten g substantially across 'the face of the automob1ie,vertical members conneoting the ends of said bars, supporting 10 members for connecting the impact bars to the' automobile frame, and connecting elements extendin between said impact bars l and engaging t e impact bars and the suporting' members for fi-rmly connecting t e lmpact bars to the supporting members.

VROLLI'EA B. FAGEOL. 

